A striking superyacht belonging to a billionaire has been spotted in the Solent.
Luxurious 103-metre Ulysses has been pictured off the Isle of Wight in recent days.
The vessel, which was built by the esteemed Dutch shipyard Feadship, has been seen moving between Fort Victoria and Thorness before moving to Hamstead.
Owned by New Zealand billionaire businessman Graeme Hart, the antipodean country’s wealthiest individual – who, according to Forbes, has a net worth of over £8 billion – Ulysses is one of the most exclusive yachts in the world.
Superyacht Ulysses off the Isle of Wight, with the Wightlink ferry in the distance (Image: Richard from Mighty Acorn Photography) According to Boat International, Ulysses was a “highly secretive” project during its construction in Amsterdam.
First hitting the water in October 2023, she is a state-of-the-art superyacht with space to accommodate up to 20 guests and a 30-member crew.
With a steel hull and an aluminium superstructure, Ulysses has a top speed of 17.5 knots (20 mph).
Superyacht Ulysses spotted off Fort Victoria and Hurst Point Lighthouse (Image: Richard from Mighty Acorn Photography)
Ranked 78th among the largest yachts globally, she features 1,100 square metres of exterior glass, including 20 sliding doors, 12 glass windbreaks, and six-metre glass panels in guest cabins.
According to VesselFinder, Ulysses is currently undergoing "sea trials", which are expected to conclude at 6pm today (Saturday).
The yacht left Plymouth, where she was previously moored, on Wednesday, making her way to the Solent for these final tests.
Her presence in the Solent has drawn the attention of maritime enthusiasts, yacht watchers, and photographers.
Superyacht Ulysses off Yarmouth (Image: Mally Boo) Richard from Mighty Acorn Photography, who has captured stunning images of the vessel, commented: "I wonder why so many billionaires seem to bring their superyachts to the Solent area?"
The sighting of Ulysses adds to the growing trend of superyachts frequenting British waters, with the Solent proving to be a favourite destination for the ultra-wealthy.
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